EarthLink explained
EarthLink |
Type: | Private company |
Foundation: | (as EarthLink Network, Inc.) |
Founder: | Sky Dayton |
Location: | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Num Employees: | ~100 |
Industry: | Internet service provider |
Products: | Internet access, premium email, web hosting and privacy and data security products and services |
Homepage: | www.earthlink.net |
EarthLink is an American Internet service provider.[1]
Earthlink went public on NASDAQ in January 1997. Much of the company's growth was via acquisition; by 2000, The New York Times described Earthlink as the "second largest Internet service provider after America Online."[2] [3] [4]
Business
EarthLink was formed in 1994, and offers services to residential consumers and businesses. EarthLink claims to have five million users.[5] [6]
EarthLink business internet sells business telecom services, IT and virtualization, cloud computing, IT security, digital marketing, colocation, hosted applications and support services. The company owns and operates a U.S. network including 29,421 route miles of fiber, 90 metro fiber rings, and eight data centers.
EarthLink offers residential consumers services that include wireless, fiber, and satellite internet, streaming content bundles, web hosting and e-commerce. Its products include spam filters, anti-virus protection, and cloud storage.
Private equity firm Trive Capital acquired EarthLink in January 2019.[7]
History
Early years
EarthLink was founded in July 1994 by Sky Dayton when he was 23 years old.[8] Dayton was convinced of the need for a simple, user-friendly dial-up Internet service provider (ISP) after spending an entire week trying to configure his own computer for Internet access.[9] Dayton set up his own network, going to a CompUSA store, purchasing 14-kilobyte modems and connecting them all together in Atwater Village, a location he picked because it was the widest possible area to which a local call could be made. The company later moved to Pasadena in 1996.[10] [11]
By 1995, EarthLink offered dial-up service in 98 cities, and was one of the first U.S. ISPs to offer unlimited Internet access for a flat rate.[12] In 1996, they began to offer Internet services for businesses, including ISDN and Frame Relay Internet access[13] and web hosting.[14]
In 1997, Earthlink began to provide 56K dial-up access, doubling the speed of its dial-up service. EarthLink also teamed up with Charter Communications to offer high-speed cable Internet access.[15] In 1998, they entered partnerships with Sprint, Apple, CompUSA, and other companies that helped it reach 1 million members by the end of the year.[12]
In 1999, EarthLink launched its TotalCommerce service for small business Web hosting and also became the first ISP to offer nationwide high-speed Internet access via DSL.[12]
MindSpring merger and other acquisitions
On February 4, 2000, the company, then based in Pasadena, California, merged with Atlanta-founded MindSpring, making it the second-largest ISP in the U.S., after AOL.[16] Later that year, the company launched EarthLink Biz DSL service.[17] EarthLink also acquired OneMain.com, a large, rural ISP,[18] and Rural Connections in 2001.[19]
In 2001, EarthLink partnered with DirecPC to offer a two-way satellite Internet service.[20] The company also introduced a fixed-IP DSL service for the SOHO business market.[21]
On June 10, 2002, EarthLink acquired PeoplePC, a low-priced dial-up ISP.[22]
EarthLink launched a VoIP phone service for broadband users called Unlimited Voice in April 2003.[23] The company also released several free tools for its members to block spam, viruses, and spyware.[24]
New ventures
New ventures during the mid 2000s included:
- a joint venture named SK-Earthlink, later renamed Helio, sold 2008.[25]
- Earthlink acquired Aluria Software, LLC-a seller of Anti-Spyware software, based in Lake Mary, Florida.[26]
- New Edge Networks (acquired April 2006)[27]
- Muni-Wireless: In October 2005, Philadelphia, PA,[28] and Anaheim, CA, selected EarthLink to build their municipal Wi-Fi networks.[29] [30] EarthLink's Municipal Networks division launched public wi-fi networks in Anaheim, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Milpitas, CA,[31] [32] and won several more municipal contracts; in 2007 EarthLink decided to exit the muni wi-fi business.[33]
- VoIP: EarthLink launched two new voice services between late 2005 and early 2006: a VoIP service called EarthLink trueVoice[34] and a high-speed Internet and voice bundle called EarthLink DSL & Home Phone Service.[35]
In July 2005, EarthLink closed its in-house call centers to reduce costs.[36]
New business acquisitions
Other acquisitions in the early 2010s included ITC Deltacom,[37] One Communications,[38] STS Telecom,[39] LogicalSolutions.net,[40] part of Synergy Global Solutions in 2011,[41] and Business Vitals, a provider of IT security and professional services.[42] EarthLink also acquired xDefenders, a managed IT security company.[43]
In May 2011, the company created a new EarthLink Carrier division for wholesale customers with fiber-based transport, voice and data service, and switched services.[44]
In July 2013, EarthLink acquired CenterBeam, Inc., a provider of remote managed IT services—with an IT Support Center providing help desk, desktop technical support and application support services.[45]
In August 2023, it was announced EarthLink had acquired the Athens, Texas-headquartered fiber and fixed wireless business internet provider, One Ring Networks for an undisclosed amount.[46]
Business network and data center expansion
In July 2013, EarthLink completed its previously announced plans to open four new data centers in San Jose, Chicago, Dallas and Miami on its next-generation cloud platform. This brought its total to eight.
In March 2017, EarthLink was acquired by Windstream Holdings, Inc., in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion, including debt.[47]
In early January 2019, Trive Capital acquired EarthLink for $330 million in cash from Windstream Holdings Inc. In 2021, Earthlink published a statement in which the company confirmed that customer's passwords can be read by its staff. Shortly later, the company deleted this statement without any clarification.[48]
TotalAccess
Earthlink's TotalAccess software bundled various tools, including a dialer, but had initial[49] negative reception both from users[50] and from hardware vendors such as Dell.[51] The 2nd iteration, TotalAccess 2004, added Earthlink Accelerator; a reviewer wrote: "EarthLink says lets dial-up users access Web pages up to 5 times faster."[52]
Awards and recognition
Other rankings and awards include:
- In October 1996, EarthLink was named "Internet Company of the Year" by the Southern California Software Industry Council.[56]
- In 2000, the company won PC Worlds World Class Award for Best ISP.[57]
- In 2002, the company was named Top ISP by CNET for the 3rd consecutive year and received a 5-star rating from Smart Business.[58]
See also
References
- Web site: Larry . Armstrong . The Mac of Internet providers . https://web.archive.org/web/19990117060159/http://www.businessweek.com/1997/50/b3557120.htm . dead . January 17, 1999 . . December 15, 1997 . March 8, 2008 .
- Web site: Michael . Learmonth . EarthLink & Scientology . . . March 19, 1998 . March 8, 2008 .
- Web site: Michelle V. . Rafter . EarthLink Connects . . May 28, 1998 . March 8, 2008 . September 27, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045504/http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,436,00.html . dead .
Notes and References
- News: The New York Times. Internet: Earthlink Reports A Loss . October 24, 2001.
- News: The New York Times. Earthlink agrees to buy OneMain . June 9, 2000.
- News: Anders . David . April 21, 2022 . Need Home Internet Service? Find the Internet Providers in Your Area . . April 21, 2022 . Red Ventures . May 5, 2022 .
- News: Anders . David . April 30, 2022 . EarthLink Internet Review: High Prices, Low Hassle . . April 30, 2022 . Red Ventures . May 5, 2022 .
- Web site: About Us EarthLink . 2022-08-30 . www.earthlink.net.
- Web site: Rosenberg . Marc . 2022-05-23 . EarthLink Overview and Prices . U.S. News 360 Reviews.
- Web site: Mandel. Eric. 24 January 2019. Private equity firm buys EarthLink for $330M, bringing HQ back to Atlanta. 15 June 2021. bizjournals.
- Web site: Borland . John . The ultimate ISP survivor faces a crossroads in broadband. Cnet . January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120515210938/http://news.cnet.com/2009-1033-888081.html. May 15, 2012 . live.
- Web site: Evans. Jonny. Apple, EarthLink, and the digital transformation of everything. Computerworld. 2021-05-07. 2023-11-22.
- Web site: EarthLink. New Georgia Encyclopedia. 2013-08-19. 2023-11-22.
- Web site: Bowles. Nellie. A Very Short History of LA Tech. Vox. 2014-06-14. 2023-11-22.
- Web site: Earthlink Inc . Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce . January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120210133700/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405300149.html. February 10, 2012 . live.
- Web site: EarthLink Inc. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120210133700/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405300149.html. February 10, 2012. live.
- Web site: Repeat/EarthLink cuts unique domain web site hosting set up fee by more than $800. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130623192924/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/REPEAT%2FEARTHLINK+CUTS+UNIQUE+DOMAIN+WEB+SITE+HOSTING+SET+UP+FEE+BY...-a018717444. June 23, 2013. live.
- Web site: Earthlink Inc. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120210133700/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405300149.html. February 10, 2012. live.
- Web site: Kaplan. Karen. EarthLink, MindSpring Agree to Merge : Technology: The combination would create 2nd-largest Internet service provider.. Los Angeles Times. September 24, 1999 . January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130617033845/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/sep/24/business/fi-13635. June 17, 2013. live.
- Web site: EarthLink Offers B2B DSL Services in Three States . internetnews.com . April 12, 2000 . August 8, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161110112147/http://www.internetnews.com/isp-news/article.php/339171/EarthLink+Offers+B2B+DSL+Services+in+Three+States.htm . November 10, 2016 . live .
- Web site: EarthLink to Acquire OneMain.com; Deal Will Help Compete With AOL . The Wall Street Journal . June 9, 2000 . November 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161110105638/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB960467242944232960 . November 10, 2016 . live .
- Web site: Earthlink buys OneMain.com for $308 million. January 31, 2021. CNET. en.
- Web site: EarthLink launches satellite Internet service. https://archive.today/20120729051255/http://articles.cnn.com/2001-05-02/tech/earthlink.satellite.idg_1_satellite-dishes-satellite-internet-service-directv?_s=PM:TECH. dead. July 29, 2012. CNN Tech. January 11, 2012.
- Web site: EarthLink offers DSL users fixed IP address option. Macworld. January 11, 2012.
- Web site: EarthLink Agrees to Buy PeoplePC for $10 Million . The Wall Street Journal . June 10, 2002 . November 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161110112840/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1023713249844609480 . November 10, 2016 . live .
- Web site: EarthLink Introduces EarthLink Unlimited Voice Broadband Telephone Service; EarthLink Becomes First Major Nationwide ISP to Deploy Full-Scale Voice-over- IP Solution to End-Users. The Free Library. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130529015055/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/EarthLink+Introduces+EarthLink+Unlimited+Voice+Broadband+Telephone...-a0131738141. May 29, 2013. live.
- Web site: EarthLink Launches Virus Blocker. PR Newswire. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130605230006/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/earthlink-launches-virus-blocker-72997952.html. June 5, 2013. live.
- Web site: Reardon . Marguerite . Virgin Mobile USA buys Helio for $39 million. Cnet . January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026051241/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9978991-7.html. October 26, 2012 . live.
- Aug. 2005: News: EarthLink Acquires Aluria Software. August 22, 2005 . April 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170407145818/http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/earthlink-acquires-aluria-software. April 7, 2017 . live .
- a provider of network and communication services for businesses.Web site: EarthLink Acquires Virtual Private Network Company, New Edge Networks. The Hosting News . January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120316232635/http://www.thehostingnews.com/news-earthlink-acquires-virtual-private-network-company-new-edge-networks-2203.html. March 16, 2012 . dead.
- News: Philadelphia Picks EarthLink for Wi-Fi. . October 5, 2005. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314042740/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB112838889067259176. March 14, 2016. live.
- Web site: EarthLink wins second muni Wi-Fi contract. Connected Planet . January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120126230946/http://connectedplanetonline.com/wireless/technology/earthlink_muni_wifi_102605/. January 26, 2012. dead.
- Web site: EarthLink Launches The City Of Anaheim Municipal Wireless Network. PR Newswire . January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007062116/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/earthlink-launches-the-city-of-anaheim-municipal-wireless-network-57015222.html . October 7, 2011. live.
- News: The New York Times. EarthLink to Trim Work Force and Close Offices. August 29, 2007.
- Web site: Reardon . Marguerite. EarthLink rolls out more citywide Wi-Fi. Cnet . January 12, 2012.
- Web site: Philadelphia Wi-Fi project now in jeopardy, EarthLink may back out. November 19, 2007. Beta News . January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150503031038/http://betanews.com/2007/11/19/philadelphia-wi-fi-project-now-in-jeopardy-earthlink-may-back-out. May 3, 2015 . live.
- Web site: Earthlink launches trueVoice a national broadband VoIP service. January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20051001051257/http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/earthlink-launches-truevoice-a-national-broadband-voip-service.asp. October 1, 2005 . live.
- Web site: Earthlink Launches DSL, VOIP. Light Reading . January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20060308203711/http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=88330. March 8, 2006 . live.
- News: Husted . Bill. EarthLink to cut 180 customer service workers Work to be outsourced overseas. . July 26, 2005.
- a telecom service provider with 32,000 customers. Web site: EarthLink to Acquire Deltacom for $516M. Fox Business . January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20101017092023/http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2010/10/01/earthlink-acquire-deltacom-m. October 17, 2010 . dead.
- Web site: EarthLink Buys Telecom Services Company One Communications For $370 Million. December 20, 2010. Techrunch . January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325200921/http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/20/earthlink-buys-telecom-services-company-one-communications-for-370-million. March 25, 2012. live.
- a privately held business in Florida and Georgia. Web site: EarthLink Completes Acquisition of STS Telecom Adds Hosted VoIP Expertise to EarthLink Business Product Portfolio. January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120309021331/http://www.earthlink.net/about/press/pressrelease.faces?id=838. March 9, 2012 . live.
- Web site: EarthLink Acquires LogicalSolutions.net. January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110920210508/http://www.earthlinkcloud.com/2011/05/earthlink-acquires-logicalsolutions-net . September 20, 2011 . live.
- Web site: EarthLink Completes Acquisition of IT Solution Center from Synergy Global Solutions. Yahoo Finance . January 12, 2012.
- Web site: Earthlink Buys Business Vitals. telecomramblings.com . August 3, 2011. November 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161110115526/http://www.telecomramblings.com/2011/08/earthlink-buys-business-vitals. November 10, 2016. live.
- Web site: EarthLink acquires xDefenders. TelecomPaper. January 12, 2012.
- Web site: EarthLink launches EarthLink Carrier. Atlanta Business Chronicle. January 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110804211504/http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/05/23/earthlink-launches-earthlink-carrier.html. August 4, 2011. live.
- Web site: Couret. Jacques. EarthLink acquires CenterBeam. Atlanta Business Chronicle. August 8, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130807171438/http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/07/02/earthlink-acquires-centerbeam.html. August 7, 2013. live.
- Web site: FinSMEs . 2023-08-19 . EarthLink Acquires One Ring Networks . 2023-08-19 . FinSMEs . en-US.
- Web site: Windstream acquires EarthLink for $1.1B, creates 145K fiber route mile network. 7 November 2016.
- Web site: 2021-06-29. Thread on Twitter. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210630083451/https://twitter.com/petarmarj/status/1409926999464988676 . 2021-06-30 .
- TotalAccess 2003
- Web site: Earthlink Total Access . June 26, 2003.
- Web site: Caution Earthlink Total Access . November 11, 2003.
- caching: MacWorld. EarthLink TotalAccess 2004 adds accelerator. Peter Cohen . December 18, 2003.
- ranked EarthLink Dial-Up Highest in Customer Satisfaction. EarthLink High-Speed tied for the Highest in Customer Satisfaction ranking. Web site: J.D. Power and Associates Reports: EarthLink Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Dial-Up Internet Service Providers.. All Business . January 11, 2012.
- ranked EarthLink High Speed Highest in Customer Satisfaction for the second consecutive year. Web site: EarthLink High Speed Internet Service Ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction By J.D. Power and Associates. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120829/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=77594&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=602236&highlight=. March 23, 2019 . live.
- ranked both EarthLink Dial-Up and EarthLink High Speed Highest in Customer Satisfaction. Web site: J.D. Power: Customers rank EarthLink as top ISP. CED . January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031238/http://www.cedmagazine.com/news/2004/09/j.d.-power%3A-customers-rank-earthlink-as-top-isp. May 21, 2014. live.
- Web site: EarthLink Network Selected as Internet Company of the Year. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032043/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/EARTHLINK+NETWORK+SELECTED+AS+INTERNET+COMPANY+OF+THE+YEAR.-a018774185. May 21, 2014. live.
- Web site: IDG's PC World Announces 2000 World Class Award Winners. PR Newswire. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130605225924/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idgs-pc-world-announces-2000-world-class-award-winners-73456672.html. June 5, 2013. live.
- Web site: EarthLink's History. January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120109211724/http://www.earthlink.net/about/history/. January 9, 2012. live.